Original Songs

The very reason The Cavan Project started was original songs. Back in 2011 I finally, after years of writing and recording random snippets of songs, spent a month or so recording 10 tracks. Listening back to them now… Read More

Shuffle Aces

Shuffle Aces are those songs that, in the days of hitting shuffle on your iPod, would have you wondering why you hadn’t listened to them more. Forgotten gems, undiscovered album tracks, B-side alternate recordings…

Music Lists

If you’re a list person I don’t really need to explain anything about why I get a kick out of coming up with weird ideas for lists and then spending a bunch of time pulling them together. If you’re not then you’ll no doubt think I’m weird.

All

I’ve always got some project on the go and this time it’s a pedalboard hack. I’ve been through a lot of pedalboards in my time – big ones, small ones, homemade and professional. Right now for the pedals… Read More

Month 82 of original song-a-month project and another song that had to be squeezed out at the last moment! Again there’s been a flurry of Magnificent Companeros activity with a bunch of new songs being worked on but… Read More

This month, the 81st month of the original-song-a-month project, is a bit different. It’s not unusual that the song itself is not really finished in a way I’d like – in fact I think it need the band… Read More

I go to a lot of different guitar websites in my relentless pursuit of information (don’t we all!), and not long ago while probably searching for something about “tone” I came across perhaps the most important piece of… Read More

Month 80 of original song-a-month project and a song that had to be squeezed out at the last moment! The Deed is an idea that’s been floating around for a while, but never brought to life. Recently I’ve… Read More

The time signature for almost all pop/rock songs is 4/4 but there are some interesting unusual time signatures used in great songs. As a songwriter I tend to write in 4/4 just because it works in my head,… Read More

Just a quick post to show a recent build: a DIY microphone stand. I wanted to keep the various mics I have close at hand when recording, but rather than tuck them away I figured they needed a… Read More

Month 79 of original song-a-month project and a song that’s been through the Magnificent Companeros production process before arriving here! Dreams is one of those songs that started as a simple set of lyrics and a chord progression,… Read More

Month 78 of the original song a month project. The Woman Who Froze In Fargo is another magazine article based song – a young Japanese girl who thought the movie Fargo was a true story and ended up… Read More

We came, we saw, we played! A great night for the first Magnificent Companeros gig and we’re very happy with how it went. It was a great feeling to actually perform so many songs that started out here… Read More

Not exactly something new, but something I only recently came across. Brass Against are a NYC-based brass band playing protest songs and other hip hop anthems. While the name suggests they’re a Rage Against The Machine cover band,… Read More

Month number 77 of the song-a-month project, and it’s been a tough one given my musical energies have all been around getting ready for The Magnificent Companeros gig we did on May 24 (which went very well, thank… Read More

Month 76 of original song a month project and a song I quite like! In fact, having only written it last week it has already found its way into the setlist for the first Magnificent Compañeros gig at… Read More

Perhaps the strangest list I’ve done is this one: 12 versions of The Saints’ classic song, Know Your Product. It comes about as I’ve been assisting the preparations for the recording of a The Aints gig. The Aints… Read More

Month 75 of original song a month exploits! It’s been a challenging month on the music side of things as we start preparing for the first Magnificent Compañeros gig. Spending time relearning the old songs doesn’t leave a… Read More

It’s one thing to be able to listen to songs, it’s another to have a video alongside them! Here’s the clip that Will has prepared as the Trip Around The Sun video. Finally The Magnificent Compañeros are on… Read More

I came across my first Garren Lazar Peanuts remix the other day being shared on Facebook. The initial one I saw was the Peanuts gang doing Free Bird – a masterful mixing of the epic Lynyrd Skynyrd track… Read More

Month 74 of the song-a-month project has landed, and All Wrong is something I really like. That said, it’s a fair way off the kind of sound I was hoping for, which is mostly a reflection of my… Read More

And so we begin the seventh year of song-a-month exploits! Month 73 is a little different but I figure I’ve earned the right to bend the rules a little! This month there have actually been two full-blown songs… Read More

I’m a fan of the “millstap” YouTube channel, and I’ve been intrigued by the fact he uses an amp screen in front of some of his amps. They apparently control the projected volume a bit, but also make… Read More

Sure, an outrageous claim – but it has to be close! I wanted a small and cheap DIY guitar stand to use at rehearsal, something solid but not industrial strength. I also wanted a small footprint as I… Read More

Month 72 of the original song a month project – six good years since it started out as a simple new year’s resolution. Bits of You Can’t Pretend have floated around for the past 18 months but it… Read More

Well, more like over 200 so far, and hopefully we’ll find more to add to the list of effect pedal clones. I started looking into this after doing some makeovers to a couple of Joyo pedals I had…. Read More

Like many, I’ve tried out a few Joyo pedals. Whilst the idea of these Chinese clones benefiting off others’ designs isn’t so great, when the circuit in question is very well-publicised and available in kit-form, then you can’t… Read More

Many years ago, I found a book on what I still think is one of the best niche hobbies ever: guitar pick collecting. I obviously bought it, but while I have many strange collectible hobbies (did anyone say… Read More

Month 70 of the original song a month project. Sennichi Kaihogyo was a set of lyrics that emerged from researching mad ultra-distance running. The lyrics tell the tale and it truly is pretty crazy but awesome. As is… Read More

We’ve been talking about “swagger” in our Magnificent Compañeros rehearsals, and Aaron called out the Faces’ “Stay With Me” as a track to listen to. It’s an old classic, but listening to it again closely made me realise… Read More

For a long time, I was always the bass player in bands. At home, I’d play guitar when I write songs, but it had always been a solo rather than ensemble instrument. Now that I’m playing rhythm guitar… Read More

Month 68 of the original song a month project. Back Where I Belong was something that I wrote a few weeks back, and this version was based on a quick take I did. Subsequently we’ve worked on an… Read More

7/7/17 Time to get back in the saddle and build another guitar! The kit guitar is due on Monday from Pitbull Guitars (a JZA-1) and I’m really excited to get cracking on this one. Probably the biggest change… Read More

Month 67 of the original song a month project! Blind was an interesting case where I had the lyrics and then went hunting through all my Logic files looking for a previously written piece of music to put… Read More

A couple of weeks back my daughter had a party and one of her friends organized a playlist. About 9pm this song came on and immediately caught my ear. It just seemed so well crafted I was amazed…. Read More

Month 66 of the original song a month project and a song that originally started out as a basic blues number, but with a couple of tweaks has changed form. It’s also a track that The Magnificent Compañero… Read More

Regular readers will be well aware of the work that Will Berryman and I have been doing getting the first album together for The Magnificent Companeros. The good news is that Down At Findlay Park is now available… Read More

So what’s the go with songs about July? In the on-going series of lists of songs with months in the title you’ll be pleased to know there’s only one month left to finish the year! I quite like… Read More

Month 65 of the original song a month project and a simple song inspired by a conversation I overheard bits of at a coffee shop: “That’s just as well you were saved by the bell!” Not too much… Read More

Yep, time for songs about June! The good news is that means only a couple more month to go before I complete the full year and can get back to normal transmission with the lists!! I quite like… Read More

I’ve previously posted about Mule Resonator Guitars and the amazing work Matt Eich is doing. But there’s more to Eich than his outstanding guitars. His Instagram feed of guitar (and cycling!) goodness features posts that contain philosophical thoughts… Read More

Month 64 of the original song a month project and there’s a pretty sparse offering. The idea behind this song started a few months back when I was at an airport and saw a poster with the line… Read More

Finally three-quarters of the way through the series of lists of songs with months in the title – so songs about May is here! It’s another month without a lot of tracks, but there is some really good… Read More

Getting month 63 of the original song a month project has taken a little time, even though I actually pulled the raw version of Castaway together quite early in the month. What the extra couple of weeks has… Read More